2004-03-10Commission Members
John D. Kenney, Chairman
Michnel P. Pierce, Vice Chairman
Marianne M. Doane
Eileen R. Duff
Gary M. Lambert
Martin J. Lawler, III
Elliott C. Margolis
Ida Beaver, Recording Secretary
BEVERLY GOLF & TENNIS COMMISSION
1:34 McKay Street
BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS 01915
March 26, 2004
Minutes of Monthly Meeting
March 10, 2004
Present: John Kenney, Chairman; Michael Pierce, Vice Chairman; Martin Lawler; Gary
Lambert, and Elliott Margolis.
Absent: Eileen Duffand Marianne Doane
Guests: Doug Johnson (Johnson Golf Management); Steve Follensbee (Attorney for
Johnson Golf Management); Peter Iovanni (Men's Association); Joe Devito (President of
the Men's Association); and Tom Smith (Golf pro).
Call to'Order:
Mr. Kenney called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm and welcomed the guests. Next, a
motion was made by Mike Pierce.to accept the minutes of the previous meeting of
February 11, 2004. Marty Lawler seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
Facilities:
The Monthly Income and Expense Reports for February were handed out. Mr. Lawler
noted that $9,900 was spent for the upstairs carpeting and $4,390 was spent for fixing the
pipe. There is an ending balance of $32,490. He stated that the current status of the ..
veranda project expenses is completed. There are authorized bills in the amount of
approximately $2,000 that have to be paid, leaving about $30,000 minus $8,800 for
authorized improvements, therebyleaving about $21,000 for the next four months. Mr.
Kenney then asked for a motion to accept the Monthly Income and Expense Reports. The
motion was made by Mike Pierce and seconded by Elliot Margolis and passed with all in
favor.
Next, Mr. Kenney said that since there is no money coming from the City to keep the
pool open, and that there are so many repairs needed along with ADA compliance issues,
that he, John Dunn and Bruce Doig suggest that the pool should be permanently closed.
John Dunn was going to ask Mike Collins of the Public Works department if they had
heavy equipment to break up the concrete deck.
Beverly Golf & Tennis Commission
Minutes of thc March 2004 Monthly Meeting
Page 2 of 2
A motion to close the pool was made by Elliott Margolis and seconded by Marty
Lawler. After some discussion this motion was amended to permanently close and fill in
the pool upon receipt of a letter of assent from Johnson Golf. This motion passed with
one abstention. Mr. Kenney will send a letter to the City Council informing them that the
Commission along with the advice and consent of Johnson Golf voted to permanently
close the pool. He will attach Johnson Golf's letter of assent.
A discussion of the capital plan proposal of On-Site Insight was tabled for a future
meeting. .
There was an estimate of $1,900 for tree work to be done behind hole #1. Mr. Johnson
said that he would get an estimate for the installation of netting along the 15th hole.
Policy and Grievance:
There were no more requests for leaves of absence. Mr. Johnson stated that the
membership is at 297.
Old Business:
Mr. Kermey said that the waiting list should the opened up, however people paid $225
to get on the list which eniitled them at the time to defer their membership when their
name came up, and their name went to the bottom of the list. This has caused some
confusion, because some people's names have been recycled more than once. Mr.
Kenney said the list needed to be cleaned up so that only those people who are serious
about becoming a member should be on it. Mr. Johnson said that he would send out
letters to those people for whom he had addresses.
Mr. Lambert wanted to know if there was a wait list policy. Mr. Kenney said that no, but
the Policy and Grievance subcommittee should draft one, and he then asked Mr. Lambert
to be on the subcommittee. Marty Lawler suggested having a new wait list and let the old
list dissolve as it may. When the people come up on the old list they Should be told to
either get in now or get in on the new list. Mr. Kenney said that the subcommittee would
take that suggestion into consideration.
New Business:
Mr. Kenney handed out Johnson Golf Management's response to the 2004 overview.
Mr. Johnson explained his response section by section. (attached)
He also passed out Johnson Golf Management's Proposed Capital Projects. (attached)
Mr. Johnson noted that this proposed list is extensive and needs to be prioritized. He
stated that a master plan should be developed with a golf course architect.
Marry Lawler asked Doug Johnson to get a price for the repairs or get someone to fix
the ceiling, leak upstairs.
Beverly Golf & Tennis Commission
Minutes of thc March 2004 Monthly Meeting
Page 3 of 3
Adjournment:
Marly Lawler made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m. Elliott Margolis
seconded the motion with all in favor. The next Commission meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, April 14, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. at the Beverly Golf & Tennis Club.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ida Beaver
Recording Secretary
Johnson Golf Management Inc.
P.O. Box 126 · Weston, MA 02493
Phone 781-736-0601 - Fax 781-736-7956
www.johnsongolfrnanagement.com
February28, 2004
To: Beverly Golf & Tennis Commission
Re: Response to Overview 2004
In response to the Commission's Overview, I submit the following:
Sections #1, #2 - Under our contract the City does receive much more money than it did
under previous contract(s), however it is unclear if there is a consistent commitment from
the City to put money back in to the golf course and building.
Section #3 - I have no knowledge or response to this.
Section #4 - I agree with all capital improvements listed.
Section #5 - It is my belief that all appointments must be approved by JGM. If the
Commission or the City do not agree pursuit to the Settlement agreement we will go
back to Judge Todd for an interpretation.
Section #6 - The final management contract was approved of by Judge Todd as part of the
settlement between the City and JGM.
Please keep in mind that whatever changes took place from the original RFP were done
as pat of the settlement instead of monetary damages resulting from JGM prevailing in
thc lawsuit. I don't believe that the Commission or JGM should care what Friel alleges.
Section #7- The Commission is correct that some thinks are not clearly defined.
Examples are: 1) there is no mention of having to aerate or topdress the greens. -These
cultural practices are critical to the greens achieving proper condition. 2) There as a
mention of who is responsible if an act of god occurs to the golf course, such as a
hurricane, flooding,.trees uprooting, winter damage, etc.
As for the five points that the Commission mentions, I believe this is an attempt to
"micromanage." All of those items mentioned are addressed as standard procedure.
South Shore CC inhaling City O.C. HIghlartd G.C. North Hill
I strongly disagree with the statement by the Commission member who suggests that our
relationship with Ms. Doane and permit holders is contentious. First of all, no one has
identified any permit holders with whom we are "controversial."
There is no "controversy." There are rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Everyone is treated professionally, honestly and fairly by JGM.
Perhaps what is contentious is that Ms. Doane and some small number of permit holders
did as they pleased in the past.
As for Ms. Doane, it is no secret that most of her actions on the Commission are to serve
her interest as a permit holder rather than what is best for the city of Beverly taxpayers.
An example of this occurred when she approached me personally to ask if the women
would receive free greens fees for their guest for the member-guest tournament. When !
told her no, she responded that it would be "goodwill" on my part to do so. I wonder how
the City would have reacted if they operated the golf course?
In the spring of 2003 Ms. Doane. was quoted in the newspapers and she chose to
denigrate the conditioning of golf course because of the weather.
The comment that the "course conditions were dreadful in 2003" is ridiculous. As every
Commission member knows the United States Golf Association visits the golf course
every year to evaluate the conditions. Every commission member was invited to attend.
Three did, but one leR after 12 holes, perhaps because that person didn't like what they
were hearing. The Commission has full access to the USGA reports and to make the
statement that "it is not clear if it was solely related to the weather" (referring to the 2003
spring damage) is contentious and misleading.
Our company worked hard and brought 18 winterkilled greens back by the middle of
June. Green #1 has a history of being bad every year. Is that "unclear" too? We have
proposed to the Commission to rebuild the 1st gram, but no action has been taken. As a
matter of fact, there has not been one penny of the City's money put into the golf course
since we have been here. Meanwhile, our compnny has spent over $225,000 for new
equipment, proper fuel storage and a number of other projects.
The settlement does encourage the commission and JGM to make the course more open
to the public. We are trying to implement that policy and the Commission should be
working for that also. Beverly Golf & Tennis Club is not a private country club. In
addition, it is illegal to have blocked off tee times on a municipal golf course which used
public funding.
The contract does allow for a member to bring up to three guests. This policy will always
remain. To say the policy is not policed, I respond and say who should be doing the
policing? You all know the permit holders have been making their own tee times as a
group in our time as was past practice. I have mentioned to you and the men's and ladies
1 The USGA confirmed that the winter conditions in 2002-2003 were among the worst in history.
attached USGA publications which were delivered to the Committee last summer.
groups that we can intervene and run all times with a mandatory call in but you do not
want to do that. So who is putting this "negative impact" on the women golfers?
As for outings other than Mondays there are very few and they have been past practice as
well. Example, the Beverly Chamher of Commerce has always had their outing on a
Thursday. When there is a Monday holiday, we are entitled to host an outing on another
day during the week.
The Charity outings were incorporated by JGM. We felt this would good public relations
for the City and us. To suggest it doesn't cost anything is ridiculous. The golf course
generates revenue every day. What do you think we would do? Close the course down?
That would never occur.
As for the food and beverage operation, we assume full responsibility for the operation.
"Par for the Course" is gone, period. We are operating the Food and Beverage.
Peter Harrison occurred are his problem, not yours. Please tell me what creditors expect
the City of Beverly to pay his bills. That is contentious. It is true that we could not reach
terms to outsource the F & B operation to an upscale operation like the Hawthorne. The
reason was because the clubhouse has been rundown for years with no money put back
into it, just like the golf course, pool and tennis courts. Very few people are interested in
going to the club duing the winter months because the place is a dump. The bulk of our
business comes during the golf season when there is activity. There are many projects
which need to be done to altract people.
Section #8 I agree with this
Section #9 - As stated, the tee times are made by the Mens and Womens groups.
Section #10, #11, #12- No comment
In closing, as I have previously stated, JGM, the Commission and the City should be
working together to make the club something we all can be proud of. Instead there is a
clear agenda by a few people to cause problems because of the lawsuit.
It is time to move on; we have. People don't like change, especially when it affects
benefits that they used to get. The club should be for everyone to use and enjoy and be
comfortable.
BEVERLY GOLF and TENNIS CLUB
PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS
SUBMITTED: March 10, 2004
In our two years of operating the club we have evaluated the complete facility and offer
1he following as projects that need to be addressed. Our company has invested
approximately $250,000 in to turf equipment, above ground fuel storage and fenced pen
area, painting of the pro shop, painting of the clubhouse and many turf cultural practices
above and beyond the contract. We have also participated in brush and tree removal
according to the USGA reports. In our two years, not one penny has been spent on the
golf course. · ·
GOLF COURSE
1) Develop a master plan with a golf course architect. (We submitted a list of
architects and prices in the fall of 2003. No action was taken
2) Rebuild the first grean. This green is a perennial problem from winter damage.
This has been presented to the Commission a number of times and no action bas
been taken.
3) Bunker renovation and restoration. As pointed out previously by us and the
USGA their should be a plan in place to tackle this project.
4) Drainage. Refer to the USGA report a set budget should be put aside each year
for drainage.
5) Tree work. Again, the three USGA reports point this out
6) A fence behind the third green area. This area is notorious for vandalism. The
fence would deter.
7) Cart paths. Again a yearly budget is needed.
8) On course restrooms and snack area.
9) Irrigation system evaluation The present system is outdated and will become a
bigger problem in the future.
1O) Driving Range plan.
11 ) Address fencing issues to protect the course from neighbors
12) Possible removal of the swimming pool and moving a putting green to the pool
area.
13) Re-landscaping the pro shop-putting green area to replace the overgrown
shrubbery that exists.
14) Purchase greens covers.
15) First and Second hole project to take borings of hills to possibly renovate to
develop removal of a blind hole.
16) A new Maintenance Building.
17) Install a bell for hole # 16
18) A new cart building
CLUBHOUSE
1) Replace the heating and cooling systems to become adequate. (These systems do
not provictc enough heat in the winter or cooling in the summer for proper
operation)
2) A program each to winter to replace flooring and carpeting.
4) New furniture. The current furniture is a disgrace
5) Building repairs. Presently there are roof leaks.
1) Develop the last two court areas to become playable
2) A new tennis pro shop that would be ADA compliant
3) Newlandscaping and patio area
In closing there are many more smaller projects that could be considered. The Beverly
Golf and Tennis Club has been neglected for years in every aspect of the operation. I
believe it is the responsibility of us to report to the Commission and to keep the City
aware and up to date as to the condition of their asset.